Former NY detective who 'broke the mold' dies

Albert Seedman was 94 and living in Florida when he passed away, but left a legacy behind

By Peter HellmanNew York Post

NEW YORK — Do you know the name of the current NYPD chief of detectives? Probably not, unless you’re a detective. The last time, and possibly the only time, a chief of detectives broke into the limelight was more than 40 years ago, during the 13-month reign of Albert Seedman, leader of the nation’s second-largest investigative force after the FBI.

Seedman, nearly blind but in full possession of his canny instincts, died at 94 in Florida Friday and was buried yesterday.

A couple of factors put the shine on Al Seedman’s three-star badge. For starters, he looked the part of a Big Apple detective chief: square jaw and shoulders, the piercing glint of his grey eyes, the onyx pinky ring, the ever-present cigar. In those days, the rulebook for detectives was informal. Seedman expected his operatives to work on a major case until it was solved, never mind days off, or whatever else it took to get the job done.